A perfect follow-up
I have been using a HyperX Cloud headset to record my weekly podcast for over five years. They are quality headsets and any time a chance to check out one of their new models presents itself, I am definitely front and center. This time I am taking a look at their wired version of the latest model, the Cloud III. This new version has been a long time coming and looks and feels much like the previous effort with the usual updates one would expect from a modern headset. It is wild that it took nearly a decade, but we finally have a new Cloud headset, and it is quite impressive.
Being a wired headset, what is in the box is pretty simple. It comes with the headset itself which defaults to a 3.5mm jack to hook it up to anything from a PC input to a controller like the Xbox or PlayStation variety. It also comes packed with a USB-C DAC cable for more compatibility. This cable adds an extra 4+ feet to the cable so it can be a little cumbersome at times. Best to get a tie to wrap it up. This also adds functionality on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and more. Hidden in the USB connector is a pop-off cap that converts it to USB-A as well. This is well hidden and took me a while to even realize it was there.
MSRP: $99.99
Works with: Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $99.99
The headset itself retains that HyperX look and feel. It only comes in one color design, which just so happens to be my favorite combo. It has a black base with a red trim that looks sleek. The metal highlights really help it stand out and it looks great. The cables are all braided which makes it easy to manage as well as looking nice. The microphone is detachable and features a mesh in front, which is easily the biggest change from the previous headset. The volume slider is on the left, which actually throws me off as most sets I use have it on the right. The left has just one button which is the mute button. As I said, this is a simple, yet elegant design.
Running the headset through the gamut the results are excellent. Doing a test, the levels are in the excellent range picking up high and low frequencies. Music sounds excellent and the voices are very clear. Using it in games is also great. The treble and bass are mixed really well. Sadly there is no official app to adjust things, but there is an option, at least for Windows users. The Ngenuity App is only available on Microsoft’s platform, which is a disappointment. This app is imperative to unlock mic monitoring as well as DTS Headphone X Spacial Audio. This app will also let users adjust the EQ, but these things can be done with several other apps as well.
The mic as I said is the biggest upgrade on this model. Starting with the mesh design it does a fantastic job of cutting out background noise when recording my podcast. Sadly out of the box it is rather quiet, much quieter than my current HyperX Cloud set. After tweaking the settings using the Ngenuity App though things definitely improved. This isn’t a huge deal, but worth knowing if you don’t have a Windows platform to grab this app. I hope they fix this going forward as it really unlocks some of the better features of the headset.
For gaming the mic works wonderfully. I love my wireless headsets, but when it comes to voice chat nothing beats a wired mic. These are just more connected and legit sound better across all uses than wireless mics. The quality is just head and shoulders above other mics. The game sound itself sounds fantastic, but not as well as some of the higher-end models. This is expected though. I was comparing a $100 set against an almost $300 set, it is expected it will be a little less impressive. Still I was really thrilled with the way it does sound and I could see myself using it just to eliminate the interference that comes with a lot of wireless models.
HyperX continues to deliver when it comes to headsets. I expect the Cloud III will last me another 5-10 years, the same as my previous model. If you are in the market for a wired headset, you cannot go wrong here. It sounds as good if not better than some higher priced models and the comfort is unmatched. Recording a three-hour podcast and I rarely had any discomfort. HyperX sets the bar again for wired headsets and I cannot recommend it enough.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
